In an 75-minute speech Thursday night, Trump made forceful promises to be the champion of disaffected Americans, capping his convention on a high note for the party, not a moment too soon after shows of disharmony and assorted flubs before the four-day closer.
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“This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness”, he said. “H”, the former secretary of state tweeted.
Running mates have mixed records of significantly improving a candidate’s electoral advantage – and sometimes the choice proves to hurt more than help. Tim Kaine of Virginia to be her running mate.
She will introduce her new partner at a campaign rally Saturday in Miami, a recognition of Florida’s pivotal importance in the fall.
His governorship was a study in practical decision-making and political maneuvering – qualities valued by the Clinton organization.
The Trump campaign called Kaine “an ethically challenged insider” and called Clinton and Kaine a “Status Quo” ticket.
Clinton and Kaine: The competence ticket..
In one of the most divisive elections in recent history, Kaine’s political style would also stand in stark contrast to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s often incendiary rhetoric and aggressive, personal attacks. But Kaine had a particularly powerful backer: Obama, who told the campaign during the selection process that the senator would be a strong choose.
Kaine is viewed skeptically by some liberals in the Democratic Party, who dislike his support of free trade and Wall Street.
Clinton acknowledged in an interview earlier this week that even Kaine admits he is a boring, and said she did not mind.
Clinton’s campaign closely guarded the selection process, keeping the names of finalists under wraps to try to maximize the impact of the announcement.
Some of his more centrist positions have upset some past supporters of Clinton’s former rival Bernie Sanders, many of whom wanted her to make a more progressive pick.
Trump boasted of his TV ratings, his primary victories and other achievements, including winning over his wife, Melania, in a stream-of-consciousness delivery with his vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, standing quietly nearby. He offered his own frame for Trump, saying he would be the “you’re-fired president”, a “trash talker” and the “me-first president”.
He has been in the national spotlight – both during the 2008 vetting and during his stint as Democratic National Committee chairman from 2009 to 2011. Kaine is expected to speak Wednesday, with Clinton delivering the closing address the following night.
As a private attorney, Kaine worked on legal cases that advocated for fair housing for African-Americans in Richmond, Va. In 1993, he worked on a federal case with Housing Opportunities Made Equal that alleged landlords were steering black renters away from their properties. He took a year off law school to help run a technical school founded by Jesuit missionaries in Honduras. Kaine has served in the U.S Senate since 2012 and was previously Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010. He also is a moderate who has the potential to attract voters repelled by Donald Trump and those who may have a hard time fully embracing Clinton. Her short list included Massachusetts Sen.
Still, picking Kaine, a self-described “boring” Virginian with wide governing experience and a reputation for low-key competence, emphasizes Clinton’s message that Democrats will offer a serious, steady alternative to the unpredictable Trump after the chaotic Republican convention that closed on Thursday.
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“He said, ‘I can look you honestly in the eye and say I don’t know, ‘” Tom Lesser, a lawyer who attended the event, told the Boston Globe. Shortly after arriving at his hotel, Kaine was awoken by a phone call from his chief-of-staff: a gunman had opened fire at Virginia Tech.
